An aspirant's several years search for Allah, made possible by His grace/mercy ,and not through any efforts of the seeker

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

86. Dilip Kumar Roy

Dilip Kumar Roy, was a lover of music. Music was his life.
He was highly educated for his time, graduated with first class honors in
mathematics and studied in Cambridge University, England, in 1919. He became
friendly with famous men like philosopher Bertrand Russell, novelist Romain
Rolland, leader Mahatma Gandhi and revolutionary Subhash Chandra Bose. But he
was restless, some other world was calling him. A different world. God was
calling him.

He chose Sri Aurobindo his Guru, and entered his ashram in
1928 and stayed there till his Guru’s death in 1950, or longer. He remained a
singer, poet, and musician. He started an ashram of his own and wrote over
sixty books. He also became a mystic, as the following episodes prove it:

His aunts and grandmother wanted him to marry, while he was
tempted and repelled, simultaneously. He had taken a vow in front of the
picture of Sri Ramakrishna to stay celibate. His greatest wish was to meet Lord
Krishna, face to face. The matchmakers invited a girl of exquisite beauty and
culture for afternoon tea, and asked Dilip to sing before the audience. Dilip
loved to sing and show his talent.

He was torn in dilemma. Finally he prayed in front of a
picture of Sri Ramakrishna, with tears rolling down his cheeks, to help him.

Suddenly he heard a distinct voice inside him, saying; “
Leave at once. Do not be here in the afternoon”

He took a taxi and went to a friend. He remained, forever,
celibate

Once he
was taken , by his grandfather, to Swami Brahmananda( Sri Ramakrishna used to
call him his spiritual son ). The Swamiji asked him to sing some song about the
Mother. Dilip was overjoyed. As he sang, the Swamiji became oblivious to time
and space and went into smadhi. When
the song ended, among other things, Swamiji said, “ do you know when he was
singing, I saw an aura of protection around him……..Thakur’s( Sri Ramakrishna ) aura…………..and I know what I am speaking
about.”

The
second time he saw Sri Aurobindo and the Mother (Madame Mira Richard )
together, in 1928, they blessed him and put their palms on his head, he had an
ineffable descent of bliss and peace. He was one with the sky, the trees, the
sands. He sat on the beach, stunned. He felt a beloved Presence. He just sat
there in ecstatic half-trance, in silent happiness.

On
January 31, 1969, in his midnight of despair, he received his greatest boon,
the vision of Lord Krishna’a lotus feet.

On May
5, 1972, he had an experience of annihilation of I-ness, ahatma. It is called Shunyam
in Hindu mysticism. It is considered a major experience.

On
February 28, 1954, as he started meditating, a profound peace coursed down his
body, in waves, from the crown of his head to the base of his spine. He had
this experience before, but it used to last no more than 24 hours, this time it
lasted for more than a month. As if it was being fed by a secret source.

His
greatest desire was to see Krishna’s Feet ( which he did in 1969 ). He had, in
October 1951, no hope, that his wish will be granted, because the sun of his
life, his Guru, had died nine months ago. Now there was nobody to rescue him.
He was in deep despair. He did not have a spiritual experience of his own. He
wanted a sign from God, that He was there, listening to him.

He said, if You are a redeemer of the derelict, don’t let me
peter out in frustration after more than 20 years of yoga; away from my home,
my friends, my relations and everything that men cherish.

He had a
piece of art in the form of Figures of
Lord Krishna and Mira in his prayer room. It had a three pronged plug. The
figures would light up when the plug was inserted in the socket on the wall.
Every night before going to bed, Dilip would diligently remove the plug.

As he
was praying, he heard a clear voice saying, “ go and see, He has lit the bulb”

He at once went to the prayer room. Lord’s figure was alive
with light! The plug was back in the wall.

After a while doubts start assailing him again. What if he
had not taken out the plug in the first place ?

He carefully let the figures stay luminous by keeping the
plug in the socket and started praying again for Lord to show him the miracle
again by removing the plug.

A voice said; “ doubting still; go, the plug has been taken
out.”

He went to the prayer room. The plug was out. The figures
were in darkness!

In April
1943 he was party to a wonderful event. He was visiting his friend Sri
Krishnaprem in Mirtola, India.In the
evening he was singing to his three friends a deeply spiritual song, written by
him, with deep emotion. The song is “ Krishna: the evergreen”. As he reached
the last line, he forgot himself, and tears started flowing down his cheeks.

When the song ended, a deep silence ensued. Some eyes were
teary.

One of them said, “ You know Ma was standing, listening, at
the door”

They were horrified, because Ma ( guru of Krishnaparem ) was
deathly sick and bedridden

They rushed to her room. She was sitting in her bed,
oblivious, in smadhi.

When she came out of smadhi,
she asked them. Did you see Him?

“ See who?”

“ Krishna was here. First he came for a second in my
room……and stepped across the threshold……I could not follow Him that way…….till
I reached the verandah……..and saw Him standing beside You (Dilip), listening…….Yes,
Baba …..I did see Him, with open eyes….as I often do…….You didn’t see?”

“No, Ma, but I did feel…….”

But she went on…… “And He was standing…..beside you……..in
person……looking so…..so tenderly…..at you……And I….I appealed to Him: “ O Thakur, give him the blessed boon of
vision…so ..so he may see You….You
Yourself have come down to hear his song….blessed blessed boy”